When a company is expanding fast, it needs to work with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that is flexible and adaptable enough to meet its changing needs.

If you’re expecting to grow significantly and therefore need strong support from the technology you choose to implement, here is a quick breakdown of the core features you should look for in your new ERP system.

Your ERP software needs to be intuitively designed and easy to learn.

If growth is imminent, the last thing you want to do is spend time (and money!) teaching staff how to use your system. You need an ERP platform that’s uncomplicated and simple to grasp – especially if your team are used to working with accounting software that’s highly visual, such as Quickbooks or Xero. You also need to know that a support team is on hand to answer any queries your staff may have as they explore the software and start making use of its extensive features.

You need to be able to access your ERP system from anywhere, anytime.

With the rise of home working, and increasing demands for connectivity out in the field, accessibility is a key feature of any good ERP software. If accessing your system on the fly is important to you, choose a system that’s based in the cloud. On-premise ERP systems may not offer the same benefits for forward-thinking companies that are embracing contemporary working culture.

You need to explore customisation options.

Many out-of-the-box solutions simply aren’t a good fit for today’s businesses, especially if these organisations have developed their own unique ways of working. Cloud-based ERP software will enable you to tailor aspects of the system to suit your own business processes. You can add user defined fields, extra forms, and custom scripts for features that meet your unique requirements – and best of all, because everything is managed in the cloud, implementation is faster and smoother than ever before.

You need to integrate with other business operating systems?

This is a must for any business that has today’s leading technology at the very heart of their operations. Whichever system you choose to deploy, it needs to be the first place you go to for answers – and this means that you’ll need to pull in important company data from other business operating systems. A stand-alone system won’t have the positive impact on productivity that you’d hoped for, as staff will still need to switch between multiple applications when completing routine tasks.

You need to be able to unlock new features from your ERP system, as and when you need them.

Maybe you need to add a new process into the mix; perhaps you require a more in-depth insight into your company’s performance to fuel an investment. If your needs change, your ERP system needs to evolve with you, not away from you. The right ERP software will offer options well beyond the features that are already being utilised and is extremely configurable. You won’t need to wait a long time to upgrade your system; you can be introduced to new, time-saving add-ons in a matter of hours, not weeks.

To discuss your company’s requirements and discover how the right ERP software can support your successful business, contact Oakley ERP today.